# Kishu Ken

> Imported the first colored (Yushoku) Kishu Ken to America. Working to address genetic bottleneck.

## Kishu Ken

The Kishu Ken originates from the Kishu region (modern-day Wakayama and Mie prefectures) and is primarily a large-game hunting dog. The breed, known for its hunting prowess and fearlessness, was declared a Natural Monument in 1934. Most Kishu Kens today are white due to the popularity of the Ouchiyama line of white Kishu.

My preservation efforts for the Kishu Ken have focused on importing quality dogs from Japan to increase genetic diversity in the U.S. I imported the first Yusoku Kishu Ken, a colored Kishu Ken, as well as other Kishu Ken and continue to work with other breeders to preserve the breed. Due to its small population, Kishu Ken faces bottlenecking in America, and my work aims to mitigate this issue.

### How Others Can Help:

*   Collaborate with breeders in Japan and other countries to import new bloodlines.
*   Promote the Kishu Ken as both a working and companion dog.
*   Join and support organizations dedicated to preserving the Kishu Ken.

## Shigeru's perspective

My partner Shigeru Kato wrote the Kishu Ken section of the 2012 PADS Journal article we co-authored (see `topics/nihon-ken-pads-article.md`). The Kishu is the boar (inoshishi) specialist among the medium Nihon Ken — heavier built, more muscled, fearless and relentless at bay. Of the medium breeds it tends to be slightly more approachable by strangers, though still independent. Shigeru's broader writing at [nihonken.co](https://www.nihonken.co/) puts boar hunting at the center of what active Nihon Ken work looks like in Japan today, making the Kishu's working population particularly load-bearing for the breed's preservation.

Source: [nihonken.co](https://www.nihonken.co/) — Shigeru Kato.

## Details

- **Category:** Breeds
- **Tags:** kishu-ken, kishu, nihon-ken, hunting, preservation, import, yushoku
- **Region:** Japan — Wakayama/Mie Prefectures

**Also read:** [All breeds](https://bradanderson.org/breeds?format=md) · [About Brad](https://bradanderson.org/about?format=md)

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